Good evening to all on Team Ronni, I hope this finds you well. After yesterday's marathon of a day, it was nice to call Ronni's nurse this morning to find that Ronni was resting well as she had been all night.

I sat with Ronni for most of the day today. I talked to her while she slept and stalked monitors as if I knew what the blinking lights and beeps might mean. At about 3:30 this afternoon, Ronni was alert and very ready to get rid of the vent. After assessing her strength, it was successfully removed, and her first words were, "I can talk." That has to be the biggest under-statement of the decade.

It was as lovely of an afternoon as it could be when two friends find themselves chatting in an ICU. We laughed and I showed her pictures of Ollie that I had taken this morning, which made her smile. We talked about Team Ronni and how amazingly wonderful you all are and how very grateful we are to have you in our lives. We also discussed that I may run away with all of you when I start my very own blog upon Ronni's return to TGB.

Ronni's nurse is wonderful. She is empathetic, knowledgeable, confident and when needed, tough. She is very pleased with the progress Ronni is making and is confident that this will continue, as are the members of the Surgical Team.

I am off to enjoy a glass of Cabernet and cuddle with Ollie- he lets me do that now. Thank you all for your love and well wishes.

Comments

Chatting with Ronni who "can talk" and cuddling with Ollie. Sounds like pure heaven to me. So grateful that the support system at the hospital is real and for the so far, so good (despite the many not-so-good moments there must be considering) situation. So very grateful for your support system for Ronni and for us. Thank you, Autumn, and bushels and pecks of love and good wishes flowing your ways from Team Ronni.

Good Morning, Ronni & Autumn!
How amazing, Ronni, that you were able and more than willing to chat after such an ordeal! You didn't want to just fall into the arms of Orpheus for hours and hours?!! That is so great, and will speed up your recovery time, and perhaps lessen your time in the hospital.
Hugs!

Ronni (and Autumn) you made my day. I got this at around 5 o'clock in the morning -I live in Paris, where I wasn't asleep due to a major heat wave.
Ronni usually posts at 2h30 my time, but Autumn posts in the morning (my time), probably when she goes to bed.
So it was just great to know that you girls had been talking and that things were running smoothly. It allowed to go back to sleep.
Thanks for the update. Lots of love.
Claude

And thanks again, Autumn, for your update. We do appreciate you having taken time out to be with Ronni this week, and keeping us informed. And if you do start your own blog, I’m sure most of could cope with an extra one!!

Thank you, Autumn, for your wonderful sharing of Ronni's recovery. I have never met her but please tell her that many friends' of Julie's are now her friends as well. You are a real blessing to her, I am sure, and Team Ronni thanks you again!

Great news! And so glad to hear kudos for the nurse caring for Ronni. ICU is the best & those nurses want to be there......... Don't you all wish the rest of this crazy world could find the love & care shown here for a dear friend. That would be a miracle along with Ronni's progress. Autumn you are the best, thank you. Dee:)

Cheers to you Autumn! Ronni will be joining you in one of those glasses of Cabernet before you know it!

Thank you for your vigilant attendance in the ICU and your prompt reporting of Ronni's progress. So, so glad to hear that things are progressing as well as they are. The synergy of two strong women going through this together is powerful! May the Force continue to be with you!

Post op day 2 love and good wishes pouring in! And there's always room for another well done, informative, educational, and humorous blog... so let us know Autumn, how to find you when you debut your blog.

In the meantime, add my thanks for all you're doing with Ronni and updating this community!

Oh goodness...thank you Ronni for your courage and Autumn for your postings. In ways profound these messages speak to a worldwide network of women caring for and about each other... all of us gathered together in friendship by our connection to Ronni and the wisdom and generosity of her writing.
Blessings on your good healing....Dr. Suzanne Baer

Thank you for the update. I am so amazed at how I can be so moved and emotionally involved with people who are internet acquaintances. Perhaps it is the universal humanity that draws one in. In any case, please pass along my best wishes to Ronni and please know that no matter how many responses you receive, you should recognize that there are probably hundreds of others who may not comment but are wishing only positive thoughts for Ronni's recovery.

Re: the comment from Susan R. Rabbi Harold Kushner - author of WHEN Bad Things Happen to Good People - noted that folks were always citing his book as WHY Bad Things ..... His response was unequivocal: no one knows why. And went on to cite the scholar Hillel "When you ask God for help, he sends you people." Whatever our religious belief, or lack thereof, so very true. Ronni was sent to help us. Autumn sent to help her. And all of us sent to help each other. Keep that good news rolling! Ann Burack-Weiss

Thank you so much, Autumn, for your continuing to help us stay in the loop. As many have already said, I am so happy that our prayers have thus far been answered and that Ronni is doing well. And it is obvious that Ollie is in good shape too. I would also love a cuddle and a glass of Cabernet, but will have it in absentia .

Ollie is one smart cat; he recognizes a good person and is no doubt grateful for Ronni's stand-in to fill his water dish and food bowl. He is showing his appreciation by letting you cuddle with him.

Autumn, you write so well you should start a parallel blog when you return to Ronni's favorite part of the country.

Ronni is one strong lady and a wonderful mentor for her team. I love her to pieces and am so happy that she is doing so well. Team Ronni are all happier each day by the good news Thanks to good friends like you and a fantastic medical staff Ronni will be writing soon.

What wonderful news with which to start the day. All that other "news" out there can't hold a candle to this. Ronni's back, and talking, and next thing you know the nuses will have her doing laps in the hall. You go girl!

Thank you Autumn for the POSITIVE update. You are doing a wonderful job. Continuing to send positive vibes for healing & strength on this journey. Isn't it a wondrous thing that most of us who do not know each other are so united in supporting this special woman, who we have come to care so much about through her online persona!

This is my first post to you, Ronni. I have read your blog most days for several years; enjoy them all. Thanks for doing this for us wise ones.
I, like all of your readers, hope for your complete recovery.
Thanks again for helping all of us.
Be strong.

What a great "gal pal" you are Autumn, I treasure mine. Those gals friends who drop everything, travel 100's of miles to be by the side of a treasured friend. Such good progress news about Ronnie...off the vent and talking and laughing...all good signs!

Wonderful news that she is progressing so well. Having you there has to be a big boost for her and a relief knowing all is being watched over. I had such a friend recently and it lets us patients concentrate on getting well and not worrying about daily stuff. That was so sweet taking pics of Ollie.
Hey when you have Ronnie back up and well, give us your link.

I always read Time Goes By but rarely write. I am so happy to hear that things went well. Thanks so much, Autumn, for taking the time and effort to keep us informed. My very best wishes for a good recovery.
Anne, Ann Arbor

We'll all be so pleased
And we'll know for sure that - -
For along with Autumn,
And with Ollie, the cat - -
For we'll ALL know when Ronni's
"Herself" once again - -
When The Crabby Old Lady
Can emerge from her den.

Wonderful news...I've been holding my breath, and I am happy to be breathing again on my own, just like Ronni!! Sounds like you are getting great care, both medical and hugging-wise. Thanks, Autumn, for keeping all of us up to date! Be patient, the journey is long.

Thanks, Autumn, for the update and for reporting on the progress of Ronni. It seems that she has emerged with her humor intact, thank goodness! I hope that each successive day the report continues to be positive; Ronni is strong and a fighter, and she has Crabby Old Lady to call on, if necessary! Having you there is a blessing to her and to us.

My cat, Nibbles, sends greetings to Ollie. Both are rather stand-offish at first, it seems.

Glad to hear Ronni is off the vent. Having worked with Resp. Tx to wean people from the vent I know it can take some people days, weeks to accomplish this sometimes. Only when being deprived of the ability to verbalize do we sometimes fully appreciate how much speaking matters to us. Your support, Autumn, is a boon -- aiding her healing process -- and thanx for keeping us informed.

Autumn ... Was there a post that introduced you? If so, I'm afraid I missed it. After reading you for a couple of days & because of your care of Ronni, I'd like to know more about you. And, if you start your own blog, count on me as a follower.

So, our grandson is visiting this week and he's pretty fascinated by being able to order something around...namely the Amazon Echo. "Alexa, tell me a joke"..."What did the zero say to the eight?...wait for it...Nice belt!" Who knew Alexa was a second grader?